Mask inlet valve cap assembly



May 26, 1970 pos s I 3,513,840 I MASK INLET VALVE CAP ASSEMBLY Filed Feb. 20, 1967 Fig./

PRIOR AR T INVENTOR. Norman P0 fash United States Patent 3,513,840 MASK INLET VALVE CAP ASSEMBLY Norman Potash, Baltimore, Md., assignor to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army Filed Feb. 20, 1967, Ser. No. 618,286 Int. Cl. A62b 7/10 U.S. Cl. 128-142.6 '1 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An improved cap-inlet valve structure for protective masks; the improvement being a bead integrally molded on the outside diameter of the annular wall of the valve.

This invention relates to an improvement in the capinlet valve structure of protective masks.

An object of this invention is to provide a protective mask having a positive sealing means.

Another object is to provide a protective mask having a cap-inlet valve means which eliminates structure deformation upon insertion or removal of the inlet cap means.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the disclosure and drawing.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of the prior art cap-inlet valve.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the improved cap-inlet valve of this invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a protective mask showing the location of the cap-inlet valve.

The preferred embodiment of this invention comprises a protective mask utilizing compact filtration-adsorption units or aerosol filter elements, structure 2 in FIG. 3, mounted within the facepiece, structure 1 in all figures. Each of the filter elements is housed in a side pocket, structure 3 in FIG. 3, within the facepiece where the elements are completely protected against the weather and against contamination on their outer surfaces. In addition to many other advantages, the filter elements can be easily removed and replaced by the wearer. It has been a constant and serious problem to prevent air leakage between an annular cap member, structure 4 in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the annular air inlet valve, structure 5 in FIG. 3, and the facepiece, structure 1 above.

In the prior art design the seal between the above cap member and facepiece was accomplished by the end thrust action of the cap member against the facepiece, and said thrust action was directly opposed to the force required to snap the cap member in place to provide a sealing relationship with the facepiece. The prior art structure resulted in an inferior seal and in caps that could not be forced on by hand, in caps that could not be removed by hand without bending the handle support, and in caps that would fall off.

In my new design, a bead, structure 6 in FIG. 2, is

integrally molded on the outer diameter of the annular inlet port wall portion, structure 7 in FIG. 2, of the facepiece. The improved seal between the. cap member and the facepiece is accomplished by compressing the bead. The force required to compress the bead is negligible and does not oppose the force required to snap the cap member over the connector, flange, structure 8 in FIG. 2. Compressing the rubber bead also helps to seal the facepiece to the connector, structure 9 in FIG. 2, of the filter element. The thrust action of the end of the cap member against the facepiece which existed in the prior art is eliminated by incorporating a clearance, structure 10 in FIG. 2. Structure 11 in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a conventional flap type disc valve member, and structure 8 is a conventional flange member.

While I have described one specific embodiment of the invention, it will be obvious that the invention is applicable to any type of protective mask. I therefore wish my invention to be limited solely by the scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

1. An improved gas mask having a facepiece and an annular air inlet on the facepiece outer wall and extending outwardly from the facepiece; the improvement in combination therewith being a first .bead means integrally molded on the outside diameter of the air inlet; a connector means having an annular flange means located on the periphery of the connector means, the flange means being integral with an end of the inlet projecting from the mask and extending laterally from the inlet, said flange means being adapted to secure a second bead means; a cap means covering the air inlet and spaced from the facepiece, said cap means being adapted to be removed from the air inlet; a second bead means integrally molded on the inside diameter of said cap means, said second bead means being attachably secured below said flange means by outward pressure of the first bead means against the inside diameter of the cap means; and a valve means fixedly mounted within the cap means, said valve means being adapted to control air flow into a purifying unit.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,019,376 10/ 1935 Wilhelm 22042 XR 2,038,267 4/ 1936 Bullard 128142.4 2,051,023 8/1936 Bullard 128141 2,251,987 8/1941 Conway 22042 XR 2,588,516 3/1952 Glidden 128l41 2,910,062 10/1959 Potash 128141 2,910,979 11/1959 Shanty et al 128142.6 3,244,354 4/ 1966 Bauer 22042 XR FOREIGN PATENTS 195,783 5/ 1938 Switzerland.

RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner K. L. HOWELL, Assistant Examiner 

